Apologies from the editor over Blue Badge March story

By Harry Mottram: An article that appeared on the front page of the March Issue of Bath Voice – had a misleading headline for which I apologise. It stated that ‘Free Blue Badge parking to end’ which is not the case. What is changing is blue badge holders will need to pay the charge to enter the Clean Air Zone from 15th March as the exemption period comes to an end – if they do not meet the council’s emissions standards. Our sincere apologies if this has caused confusion or distress.

The article by John Wimperis a Local Democracy Reporter explained: The city’s clean air zone requires drivers of vehicles other than private cars and motorbikes to pay a charge to drive though the zone, which covers large parts of the city centre and adjacent areas, if they do not meet the council’s emissions standards.

Drivers with disabilities who hold Blue Badges were one of several groups able to apply for their vehicle to be exempt in the first two years of the Clean Air Zone, which came into force in 2021. But now the exemption period is almost up.

From March 15, Blue Badge holders, wheelchair accessible taxis, community health, education, social care workers, community transport, and people who got exemptions under the financial assistance scheme will all now have to pay the charge for the first time.

Currently, there are 88 exemptions issued for Blue Badge holders, 27 of which are being actively used. 36 have not been used in the last three months and 25 have never been used.

The daily charge to enter the Clean Air Zone is £9 for taxis, minibuses, vans, pick-up trucks, and some campervans and four-by-fours; and £100 for coaches, buses, and HGVs. Private HGVs like horsebox vans and motorhomes can have the £100 reduced to £9, if registered with the council.

Motorbikes and private cars are not charged for entering the Clean Air Zone.

Widcombe & Lyncombe: Alison Born 01225 319188

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Winston Duguid 07899 066440

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Southdown: Paul Crossley 07718 632959 paul_crossley@bathnes.gov.uk

Dine Romero 01225 477496 dine_romero@bathnes.gov.uk

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Continued from page 1 in total has received over 30,000 refugees.”

“Since the summer last year, I have been having regular meetings with the Mayor of Oleksandriya to discuss how Bath and North East Somerset can help the region of Oleksandriya.

“And our meeting in December, we had to delay it by 24 hours because the Russians had shelled the city and destroyed the local electrical supply and when I got in contact with him the next day, with his team, he

Breastfeeding peer support appeal

The breastfeeding peer supporters at the RUH are calling for more volunteers to join them.

drop-in sessions and has a thriving Facebook community with over 1,400 members.

“This is a city that is the same size as Bath.”

Mr Guy said that he had been told by the Mayor that the best thing to to do help the city was send generators (pictured). Mr Guy said: “If you just want to picture this, the children’s hospital was suffering intermittent power shortages. During deliveries of babies, the incubator ward was going out of power.”

Continued on page 4

The breastfeeding peer support service was set up to supplement the support provided by the infant feeding team for mums to breastfeed their babies. The peer support service is led by volunteers who provide support in-person on the antenatal ward and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the RUH and in community locations across Bath and west Wiltshire.

The service also supports people virtually via weekly online

Every volunteer undergoes a 35-hour accredited training course and mentoring by experienced volunteers and RUH maternity staff.

To find out more contact Sally Tedstone, RUH Infant Feeding Specialist, at sally.tedstone@nhs.net.

To join the virtual support group, search for ‘Bath and West Wiltshire Breastfeeding Peer Support’ on Facebook or contact Heather Kale, Breastfeeding Peer Support Volunteer, at heather.kale@nhs.net.